Month: April 2018

FWIW that was two different engine families, the belt driven 90s ones were A-family, twin cam 4AFE/4AGE (1.6L) and 7AFE (1.8L). Then with the AE-110 body Corolla came the ZZ engine family with a chain drive and more power. Both are pretty long lived, the caveat being they tend to start burning oil past 150k, and the 1ZZ is more inclined to do so than the earlier A. I think the issue in both cases stems from emissions driven efforts that made the engines run hotter, which caused oil to coke up in the piston oil drainage holes on the oil rings. The oil rings would end up freezing up and not scavenging oil off the cylinder walls as well, and the cars would acquire quite an appetite. Now, if you just keep up with the oil level the car can run in this steady state for a long time. But fairly often the owner would neglect to keep up and serious engine problems would result. The true fix is to take the top end apart, take the pistons out, drill out the holes and reassemble with new rings. Hardly anyone wants to do that on a $2000 Corolla/Prizm.

It is easy to find a used Camry. What’s harder is to know which one you should get. The LE and XLE trim levels are softer and less enjoyable to drive, while the SE and XSE models get sportier styling and a stiffer suspension. The standard 4-cylinder engine is adequate, while the optional V6 turns the Camry into a quick car. An efficient hybrid model is also available, if gas mileage is a priority for you.

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The BMW R 1200 GS isn’t pretty. But like Marv, it’s got presence. Heaps and heaps of it. And it’s essentially German in the way it looks. There are all kinds of angular creases, flat planes, contrasted plastics, painted aluminium bits, tubular steel frame members… it would be a mess if it wasn’t so carefully crafted to produce an extremely complex design. In some ways, your eyes find no place to rest. In other ways, your eyes have no time for anything else once a GS is around. It’s a wonderful design even though it isn’t pretty in any traditional sense. Add to this the GS owner’s propensity to cover said motorcycle in protective plumbing and complement the excellent LED headlights with more lights – not that I can excuse myself from that same excess – and the picture is arresting. Wherever we stopped, people would walk over to marvel is slack-jawed amazement at the size and girth of the BMW. They’d wonder how you’d ride a bike this large while their eyes visibly pin-balled from part to part endlessly.

Bill Marsh Auto Group – Traverse City Document Processor for Sales Department If you have the drive and the desire to build your career with a successful and innovative company, we want to talk with you. The best candidates in this position would be smart ‘gatekeepers’ of a car deal but also have the ability to type 15 deals in a day. Personal traits should include pride in work; dependable, detail oriented, accurate; ability to multi-task with no errors; ability to work with the sales administration team; ability to effectively communicate with teams; flexibility with scheduling; ensure all deals are legally compliant; type deals with speed and accuracy. Conclude delivery process, report the delivery, apply for incentives, and create purchase orders. Break down deals, confirm all documents are correct, then deliver to accounting within 24 hours. Some administrative duties. If this is you, apply now! Partnerships with GM, Chrysler, Ford and Hyundai. Hours/Pay: Full time; $13/hour. Full benefit program. Get the Job! Email danapratt@billmarsh.com or visit billmarshcareers.com. JD Byrider – Traverse City Account Representative Job requirements include success in consumer-related collections, customer retention, default prevention, and dispute resolution. Experience required: 3- to 5-year account retention or personal and/or financial counseling background(s) required. Past supervisor or team leadership skills required. Work for a growing industry leader that has close to 170 locations in 36 states and over 27 years of experience. Hours/Pay: Full time; $13.00 per hour plus monthly bonus potential, company benefits, and extensive company training. 40-hour work week, open until 7pm on Monday and Friday. Rotating Saturdays from 9am-3pm. Get the Job! Visit billmarshcareers.com or email danapratt@billmarsh.com . Platte River Inn – Honor Servers/Bartenders/Cook Some day shifts, some night shifts. Possible part time available also. Hours/Pay: Full or part time; servers $4/hour, bartenders $7/hour. Cook $13-14/hour. Get the Job! Email dvsusan@gmail.com . Tip to Toes – Traverse City Stylist/Manicurist Work your schedule, control your own schedule. Chair rental available for stylist or manicurist. $465.00 a month, lowest rent in Traverse City. Laundry on site, internet, website, month-to-month — no contracts, clientele preferred. All applicants held in confidentiality. Hours/Pay: Full time. Get the Job! Inquire at (231) 357-2819 or email kelleymaries@gmail.com .

I don’t really find anything wrong with cheating your way through an idle clicker game, since you’re only really affecting your own experience. If you want to spend weeks instead of months (or a year) trying to unlock every achievement in a game—a feat only you will know about—then by all means, cheat. The trickiest part is finding the right balance between “I am automating an idle game to make it easier, but still interesting” and “I just clicked a million times in ten minutes and now I have nothing else to do.”

In many ways policies are helping achieve that goal. There’s an additional duty on parts of new cars in a bid to boost local manufacturing. While for used cars the GST rate, which was similar to the rate on new cars has been brought down. The hard sell by the industry as to why the same car should be taxed twice at the same rate paid off, and government decided to make used cars more attractive. This was done in January, bringing GST rates on pre-owned cars to 12% and 18% (depending on size of car) from 28% earlier.

Mild revisions for the 2018 model year address some gripes levelled at the Etios. We got our paws on one of these enhanced versions slightly ahead of launch. Finally, Toyota has updated the instrument cluster, a welcome improvement over the outgoing car. No longer does it look like it was the printed efforts of someone using Microsoft Word Clip Art for the first time. Cabin materials cannot be described as even pretending to be upscale. But there is a durable concoction of plastics in there.

Alfardan Automobiles has opened its newly-renovated and expanded BMW and MINI Madinat Khalifa branch service centre. With this, the official BMW Group importer in Qatar is “bringing new and improved facilities and services to its customers”, it said in a statement. Featuring a “spacious and luxurious” waiting lounge with increased seating areas for customers, the Madinat Khalifa branch service centre offers quick services and small repairs for BMW and MINI cars. The refurbishment has been completed according to the latest BMW standards to provide new and more comprehensive facilities to Alfardan Automobiles’ customer base. Part of the renovation, which has increased the floor space, includes a dedicated MINI reception and a wide range of BMW and MINI accessories and lifestyle items. Alfardan Automobiles general manager Rabih Ataya said: “We are excited to expand our presence and offerings in Qatar and for our customers to experience the Madinat Khalifa service branch, which is now bigger and better than ever before. “We constantly strive to provide both BMW and MINI customers with the best-quality service and look forward to hearing feedback from our customers on the new services we have added to the centre.” Alfardan Automobiles stressed that it “will continue moving forward with its strategic expansion plan across the country”. Within this context, a new BMW aftersales branch is scheduled to open in Al Khor later this year. Ataya continued: “With the significant potential for further growth in the market, the new service branch is geared up to deliver total satisfaction and offer customers in Qatar the experience they deserve.” The service centre is located in Madinat Khalifa next to Landmark Mall, and is now open from Saturday to Thursday, between 7am and 12noon.